§ COLONEL ARBUTHNOTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether the Provincial Government of British Columbia applied to the Imperial Government through Admiral de Horsey, in 1877, for a grant of £100,000 in aid of the dock at Esquimalt in lieu of £50,000 already promised; whether that Admiral and his predecessors have repeatedly urged on the attention of the Admiralty the necessity of providing dock accommodation for Her Majesty's ships on the station; what is the condition of the Esquimalt dock at present; and, whether there is any correspondence on the subject, either at the Admiralty or Colonial Office, which can, without prejudice to the public service, be laid upon the Table?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHSir, there has been some Correspondence between the Provincial Government of British Columbia, the Dominion Government, and the Home Government with respect-to assistance suggested to be given to a proposed dock at Esquimalt; but it would not be to the public interest that the Correspondence should be produced. The necessity for dock accommodation 1171 on the Pacific Station has been urged by the Admirals commanding; but it is doubtful whether Esquimalt would be the best position for the work the Squadron has to perform. I am not aware how much progress has been made with the dock at Esquimalt.